12 Sins We Blame On Others

I read this the other day on John Piper’s Blog and I wanted to share it with you.

It started in the Garden. Adam said to God,

The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate. (Genesis 3:12)

The first man, caught in the first sin, turns to blame his wife. And he extends the blame to God as well! He implies that he would have remained innocent if God hadn’t put Eve in the garden with him.

The blame-shifting in the Garden continues today. Our proud hearts send us desperately looking for someone else to point to every time we’re confronted with our own sin. There must be someone else—our spouse, sibling, parent, boss, co-worker, pastor, friend, or God, himself.

We are so desperate to justify ourselves that we become irrational. Here are 12 examples.

1) Anger

I wouldn’t lose my temper if my co-workers were easier to get along with, or if my kids behaved better, or if my spouse were more considerate.

2) Impatience

I would be a very patient person if it weren’t for traffic jams and long lines in the grocery store. If I didn’t have so many things to do, and if the people around me weren’t so slow, I would never become impatient!

3) Lust

I would have a pure mind if there weren’t so many sensual images in our culture.

4) Anxiety

I wouldn’t worry about the future if my life were just a little more secure—if I had more money, and no health problems.

5) Spiritual Apathy

My spiritual life would be so much more vibrant and I would struggle with sin less if my small group were more encouraging, or if Sunday school were more engaging, or if the music in the worship service were more lively, or if the sermons were better.

6) Insubordination

If my parents/bosses/elders were godly leaders, then I would joyfully follow them.

7) A Critical Spirit

It’s not my fault that the people around me are ignorant and inexperienced.

Bitterness

If you knew what that person did to me, you would understand my bitterness. How could I forgive something like that?

9) Gluttony

My wife/husband/roommate/friend is a wonderful cook! The things they make are impossible to resist.

10) Gossip

It’s the people around me who start the conversations. There’s no way to avoid hearing what others happen to say. And when others ask me questions, I can’t avoid sharing what I know.

11) Self-Pity

I’ll never be happy, because my marriage/family/job/ministry is so difficult.

12) Selfishness

I would be more generous if we had more money.

Making excuses like this is arrogant and foolish. It’s a proud way of trying to justify our actions and pacify our guilty consciences. And it keeps us from humbling ourselves before God to repent of our sins and seek his forgiveness.

Consider James 1:13-15, which leaves us with no way of escaping our own sin and guilt. We cannot blame God, for he “cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”

Instead, we have to accept the humbling truth that “each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” This will end the blame game, and it will send us pleading for Christ’s mercy and grace.

Because of Him,

Chris

Why Am I Still In The Church?

We are living in some dangerous, exciting, and historical days. While the church of Jesus Christ expands and His Kingdom advances, there is also a back door through which many millions have chosen to leave through.

Speaking of the American evangelical church, everyone from Barna to Dobson has been lamenting the mass exodus of hordes of people from the church for years.

The angry. The misunderstood. The theologically moderate. The wounded and confused. The bored. The busy.

The books written about this migration out of the church could sink a battleship, so I feel no need to add to their already significant research.

But in light of all this, the enormous volume of my generation that leaves the church for the aforementioned reasons, and knowing what I know (and having seen the ugly side of Christians and church life), there is really one question that I keep asking myself, and I think you need to ask yourself as well.

WHY AM I STILL IN THE CHURCH?

What keeps me coming back over and over again? And for many, this is just a Sunday question because Sunday is about it, as far as attendance and involvement goes.

But for me, church is my life and my livelihood. I am a pastor, so you may say, well you have to go. But you’re wrong. I don’t!

So why stick around?

There are many answers, but I only want to mention one today.

Take it or leave it, argue with it, do what you will with this, but this is the over-arching , all-encompassing reason I still love the the church, and all the other reasons must be secondary to this one.

I STILL LOVE THE CHURCH AND STAY IN THE CHURCH BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IT IS RIGHT BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS GOD’S IDEA, I BELONG TO GOD, AND I OBEY HIM.

I can give many more reasons, but they all flow from this reality. I did not invent the church, nor did you.

The church was God’s idea, His way of continuing His work in the world that He began with Abraham, through Israel, through Jesus Christ, and now through His Body, the community of faith.

The church IS NOT AN OPTION.

The bottom line for me is that I belong to God. I was purchased by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. From that moment, I ceased to be my own anymore, meaning that when He became my Lord, I began doing what He wanted me to do, not what I wanted to do anymore.

So for me to deny His family, to remove myself from His body, and say that I don’t need it, is akin to taking back Lordship from Him and saying, “No thanks, God. I tried you out as Lord, and did not like your leadership or your church. I will now take back control of my own life, thank you very much.”

I can hear some people reading this right now and saying, “But you don’t understand. It’s not that easy. I have been hurt, the church is corrupt, people have let me down.”

I would never minimize the hurt and pain that church issues cause people. I certainly know and understand  how that feels. But I will also not minimize the Church of the Living God, His very body, because some of His children can’t quite get it right and fight over how to make it work, either.

So I still love the church and stay in the Church because, simply put, it is right to love the church.

Even with all it’s trouble and splits and plagues, power struggles, ego-maniacs, the church will always be God’s idea, God’s people, and ultimately, God’s business.

Since I am also His, I choose to continue loving, and living in, His church. And in my opinion, so should you.

Because Of Him,

Chris

Get In The Game

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

One of the reasons why God has saved us, is that we might be fruitful Christians. He has not saved us merely that we might be free from judgment and go to heaven when we die. But that the character of Jesus Christ might be reproduced in us while here on earth.

We are to live in the flesh, not of the flesh. We are to do good works that Christ might be glorified, and that many might be brought to faith in Him.

We see this stated in a wonderful way in Eph 2:8-10.

These verses say three things, they say that: ▪ God saved us by grace. ▪ He has a plan for our lives. ▪ There are good works in that plan.

So here is the question, “Are you serving or sitting?”

There are so many who think Jesus is supposed to serve them! No! We are supposed to serve Him, not for our glory, but for His.

Don’t be content to be on the team and sit on the bench, get into the game!

Don’t just go to church, be the church, get involved in ministry, and let the Lord use you to bring glory to Him.

Because of Him,

Chris

I Am A Soldier

I Am a Soldier
Author unknown

I am a soldier in the army of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.
Faith, Prayer, and the Word are my weapons of Warfare.
I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity.

I will either retire in this Army or die in this Army;
but, I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out.
I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable.
If my God needs me, I am there.

I am a soldier. I am not a baby.
I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up,
pumped up, picked up, or pepped up.
I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me.

I am a soldier. I am not a wimp.
I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders,
praising His name, and building His kingdom!
No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts.
I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.
I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.

I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.
When Jesus called me into this Army, I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing, I will still come out even. I will win.
My God will supply all my needs. I am more than a conqueror.
I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ.
Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me.
Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me.
Governments cannot silence me, and hell cannot handle me!

I am a soldier.
Even death cannot destroy me.
For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield,
He will promote me to a captain.
I am a soldier, in the Army, I’m marching, claiming victory.
I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier, marching Heaven bound.

Confidence In A Crisis

In 1965, Admiral Jim Stocksdale became the highest-ranking POW in the Vietnam War. He was in a concentration camp for eight years and was tortured repeatedly. His captors ripped off his fingernails, drove spikes into the most sensitive parts of his body, used electrical shock on him, beat him, and starved him. His experience was horrific.

When Admiral Stocksdale was finally liberated in 1973, he was asked how he managed to never lose confidence.

”I never lost faith in the end of the story,” he said. ”I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade.”

Admiral Stocksdale’s story should inspire us in dark times. He wouldn’t trade those eight years in concentration camp for anything. They were the defining moments in his life in which his character and faith were forged.

Romans 8:28 ”And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

Because of Him,

Chris

How’s Your Giving?

A LITTLE BOY was sitting in church one day when the offering plate passed by. He didn’t have any money, so he tore off a piece of the sermon note page and wrote, ‘I Give Myself.’ I’m not sure how much was given in cash and checks that day, but that little boy gave the best offering.

PAUL WROTE about the Macedonians and told us they first gave themselves. What an example. If the church of the 21st century would give of itself and its substance, we might be able to make a dent in this old world.

I’VE KNOWN people who give based on an emotional appeal, but this is not the best way to give. We should give based on Biblical principles, not the passion of the moment.

One is a gift of obedience. The other can be a gift of emotions that may not be repeated.

SPURGEON once told the story of a man who boasted that his religion had been a very cheap investment, costing him only a few cents a year. Another man said to him, “The Lord have mercy on your little stingy soul.”

Spurgeon said, “If a man has no more religion than that, if he has not a religion that will make him generous, he has no religion at all.”

SOME of the most generous people I know are not rich. In fact, we have widows and others who are living on Social Security who give faithfully every month.

I wonder what God thinks about those of us who have jobs, benefits, nice houses and expensive cars who give a token to the church. Seriously, how do you think that’s going over in heaven? Watch out, don’t let prosperity destroy generosity.

I BELIEVE that those who give the most have the most left.

When I give, I’m expressing my love for God and my faith in God as my provider. I can’t out-give God. My giving is not a matter of what’s in my checkbook; it’s a matter of what’s in my faith book.

Do I believe God? Will I take God at His Word? Do I think I know my needs more than God?

NEARLY HALF of the parables from the lips of Jesus have the use of money as their main subject. Ian Barclay writes, “It is sometimes said that we should give until it hurts. But Jesus teaches that it should hurt when we cease to give. Jesus said more about money than He did almost any other subject. Why? He knew men’s hearts. We are greedy and covetous by nature. If we don’t learn to give, we lose at life and lose treasures in heaven.”

WHAT IF GOD was building your home in glory based solely on what you are giving? What if He translated your gifts to the church into materials for your eternal home? Would you be in a mansion or a shack? Would you even have a roof over your head?

THE WORLD is made up of givers and takers. While the takers may eat better, the givers will sleep better. The takers have it all in this life. The givers have treasures in heaven. The takers show off now. The givers will be revealed in glory. What we spend here we lose. What we send ahead we have for all eternity.

I’M CONVINCED we can’t see true revival until we repent of self-centered living and start to understand sacrificial living. We must re-prioritize our check writing, first the church, then our bills. The church check should be first, not last. God doesn’t bless leftovers. If you want left-over blessings, be a left-over giver.

HOW’S YOUR GIVING? When was the last time you gave? Did you give the first fruits or the leftovers?

Your checkbook says a lot about the condition of your heart. It reveals your priorities. It will also be used on the day of judgment to reveal how important the church and the Great Commission were to you.

Are you ready for God to look at your checkbook? He already has. Is He pleased?

Because of Him,

Chris

Mickey Mantle’s Salvation

Just a little follow up on yesterday’s sermon:

Bobby Richardson, 1960 World Series Most Valuable Player, seven-time American League all-star second baseman, is a vibrant Christian.

Bobby had the opportunity to lead his fellow player and friend, Mickey Mantle, to Christ.

Mantle, who battled alcohol addiction, listened to Bobby’s testimony and heard about the way of salvation many times from Richardson, including the final days of his chemotherapy treatments before he died of cancer in 1995. Mantle accepted Christ on one of Bobby’s visits.

Bobby wanted to be sure. The last time they visited he went over the plan of salvation again with Mantle who said, “That’s what I’ve done.”

Richardson’s wife, Betty, wanted to be sure. She asked, “If a holy God appeared today and asked you this question: why should I let you in my heaven?- what would you say?”

Mickey quoted John 3:16.

He had real peace and died 3 days later.

Have you accepted Christ as your personal Savior?

Because of Him,

Chris

Suggestions For Parents

I think all of us should be concerned about the family in America today.

Here are a few observations that will possibly open our eyes to the seriousness of the problem.

1] Kid’s are running the home.

Everywhere you look it seems that kids determine what the family will do.

Kids will whine, pitch a fit and act like brats until their parents give in to what they want.

2] Kids are getting away with too much.

Parents are covering for their kids and making excuses for them. If a child doesn’t do what they’re supposed to do, the parents rush out and try to ”fix” it.

Kids will never learn anything if they are always being bailed out and are never forced to take personal responsibility for their actions.

3] Kids are getting their understanding of the home from the culture and media.

In other words, dad is an idiot, mom is stressed and can be pushed over the edge and kids can be smart alecks.

If I had smarted off to my dad like kids do today I’d probably be in heaven today.

4] Kids have no respect for authority.

They don’t respect teachers, coaches, pastors, public servants or leaders at any level. Why? Too many parents take their sides and never consider that their ”precious little angel” could be wrong.

Or parents bad-mouth those in positions of authority and model this inappropriate behavior in front of their children.

5] Kids have no concept of consequences.

When kids disobey, the computer stays in their room and they’re allowed to keep their cell phones.

If they get in trouble with the law, parents never let them taste the consequences of sin. Parents try to cover things up and look good at all cost.

Children have to learn how to accept the consequences for their actions or they’ll never learn from their actions.

6] Kids lack spiritual leadership.

Many parents just drop their kids of at church and then do their own thing.

Others want their kids to be good Christian examples, but they aren’t willing to be godly parents.

Too many kids lack spiritual direction in the home. The Church cannot resurrect what the home puts to death. A church can have a fantastic children’s and youth program, but if it’s not being reinforced at home it is largely in vain.

7] Kids are not paying attention in Worship Services.

Kids talk, whisper, and send text messages during worship services.

No wonder they have little desire to walk with God. They aren’t listening to the sermon and engaging in worship; they’re just sitting in church doing what they do if they were at the mall.

- You might be asking why I started every observation with kids.

It’s simple, our kids are a reflection of us.

My hope and prayer is that we who want to reach and impact the next generation ( including our own children) will take our responsibility seriously.

Because of Him,

Chris